David del Ser's Historical Entrepreneurs Speech Applies Past Lessons

In his historical entrepreneurs speech, David del Ser uses Christopher Columbus and Bartolomé de las Casas as examples of businessmen in the 1400s. He compares Lisbon, Portugal to today's Silicon Valley and Columbus to an entrepreneur seeking funding to make his voyage to the Americas.

Columbus was motivated by getting rich and leaving a personal legacy. Bartolomé de las Casas was the first priest ordained in the Americas, but was also dedicated to improving the lives of the people in the new world. Whether it was the financial system in place or the rights of the local Indigenous peoples, de las Casas was focused on universal human rights.

The historical entrepreneurs speech implores the audience to consider the current challenges our society faces, like climate change, and how they would like to be remembered in 500 years. Would they like to be Columbus, motivated by individual means and money, or de las Casas, fighting for all people?